Shoot or No Shot 2020, Episode #6

[WapitiTalk1]

Season/Hunt: Partner Hunt; Archery, 3 Point or better bull tag
Time/Date/Location: 5:30ish PM, early September, in and elk state
Camp/gear: Backcountry hunt; living large in your 4-man tipi

You and your buddy are really enjoying your 7 day backcountry hunt in (insert elk state here).  The elk have been vocal and you’ve had some close calls but no real shot opportunities yet.  Today (this evening) you’ve each decided to each hunt a different area (about a mile apart as the crow flies) and see what you see (or hear).  On this very nice flat bench, you find a series (two or three) of recently used small wallows and decide to sit a bit and listen.  Not hearing anything, you decide to throw out a couple of whiny cow calls and see if anything responds.  Not a peep in return….. After sitting there a bit longer (25 yards from the wallow you see), you hear and see a bull coming in from your left (gee, I’ve never had a bull come in silent).  You draw as he enters the small opening and….. he stops in the wallow where you see him now and his first move is to dig in the mud with his front right leg.  You’re at full draw, 25ish yards from the pawing bull, in the direction of the yellow arrow.  Thermals are downhill now (left to right). 

Shoot or no shot here? If not shooting now, what are your immediate plans to bring this bull home for dinner? 


Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

[Archry]

Nope.  Waiting for the front leg to come forward.

[WapitiTalk1]

That’s it;  no other comments? 

[High Climber]

No shot. Hold er back until he gives a better angle

[pd]

I hate this setup.  (Not you, Rory, the elk!)

I am at full draw, at 25-yards???  How can I let down without the bull noticing me?  There is no way I am shooting now.  Terrible situation.

Quietly let down.  Let him walk if necessary.

[Crunchy]

Staying away from the red line, and shot is the red dot.  I would wait though.  That is a bad angle but doable. 

[WapitiTalk1]

Staying away from the red line, and shot is the red dot.  I would wait though.  That is a bad angle but doable.

You got a lung and liver with that shot. Not saying I would have taken that shot or not, just saying kill shots at elk are fleeting....gotta make the most of them.  Let’s hear some more discussion.

[High Climber]

Staying away from the red line, and shot is the red dot.  I would wait though.  That is a bad angle but doable.

Crunchy, to me that looks like a single lung and liver best case shot with very small margin for error. If you don’t mind, please breakdown your shot

[WapitiTalk1]

I hate this setup.  (Not you, Rory, the elk!)

I am at full draw, at 25-yards???  How can I let down without the bull noticing me?  There is no way I am shooting now.  Terrible situation.

Quietly let down.  Let him walk if necessary.

He’ll be there for a bit. How long can you hold at full draw?  How are them wild pups of yours?

[Crunchy]

Staying away from the red line, and shot is the red dot.  I would wait though.  That is a bad angle but doable.

Crunchy, to me that looks like a single lung and liver best case shot with very small margin for error. If you don’t mind, please breakdown your shot

I dont like the shot either but the thread wasnt getting any action so I picked what I thought was the best possible shot.  To me it looks like I would get both lungs or very close to the off side lung.

[High Climber]

Staying away from the red line, and shot is the red dot.  I would wait though.  That is a bad angle but doable.

Crunchy, to me that looks like a single lung and liver best case shot with very small margin for error. If you don’t mind, please breakdown your shot

I dont like the shot either but the thread wasnt getting any action so I picked what I thought was the best possible shot.  To me it looks like I would get both lungs or very close to the off side lung.

Gotcha, thanks

[WapitiTalk1]

You guys know I do these: I lay em out for you to play out and discuss.  This is a bit different of an angle but shows the vitals.

[High Climber]

I would be thinking about cow calling if I was holding for a while.. hope that he stops pawing and picks his head up for a possible frontal if it was presented

[shootem]

I don't see lung and liver on this shot. You will hit the right lung but not the liver which is on the same right side. Exit on the left will most probably hit stomach/intestine and maybe spleen. WAIT. The critter will give you a better angle.

[Tjv28]

I would be thinking about cow calling if I was holding for a while.. hope that he stops pawing and picks his head up for a possible frontal if it was presented

That